SBA grants business disaster declaration after flooding

Gov. Larry Hogan checks on cleanup efforts

New video obtained by 11 News shows how quickly the flood waters destroyed Ellicott City. The security camera of a small business on Main Street offers new pictures from three different views of the flood waters quickly rising.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved a disaster declaration for Howard County and surrounding areas.County Executive Allan Kittleman released a statement Wednesday afternoon, saying SBA Director Maria Contreras-Sweet has signed the request to make low-interest disaster loans available to homeowners, property owners, businesses and nonprofit agencies.Gov. Larry Hogan made the request for an SBA disaster declaration on Tuesday.SBA Loan Fact SheetThe governor's office said the declaration covers Howard County and the adjacent counties of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Prince George’s and Montgomery.the declaration covers Howard County and the adjacent counties of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Prince George’s and Montgomery.Businesses and nonprofit organizations of any size can borrow money to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.SBA's customer service representatives are available at the Disaster Loan Outreach Center to answer questions about the disaster loan program and help individuals complete their applications. The center is located at the Ellicott City 50+ Center at 9401 Frederick Road.The center will be open Friday at 8 a.m. Its weekdays hours will be from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.Applicants can apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.Businesses and individuals can also get information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing), or by emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.Loan applications can also be downloaded at www.sba.gov/disaster.Completed applications should be returned to the center or mailed to:U.S. Small Business AdministrationProcessing and Disbursement Center14925 Kingsport RoadFort Worth, TX 76155The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Oct. 11, 2016. The deadline to return economic injury applications is May 10, 2017.The July 30 storm dumped more than 6 inches of rain, flooding Ellicott City and killing two people.New video obtained by 11 News shows how quickly the flood waters destroyed the town. The security camera of a small business on Main Street offers new pictures from three different views of the flood waters quickly rising.At first, the water was passable and cars were getting by. Within minutes, the water got stronger, pushing trash cans down the street. It then became a raging river, pushing cars down Main Street like toys.On Wednesday, Hogan toured Ellicott City to check on the progress of the cleanup efforts, more than a week since he first assessed the damage for himself."It looks like an entirely different place than it was last Sunday when I was here," Hogan said.The governor said the assistance from the federal, state and local levels is impressive."A lot of stuff has been cleaned up, roads are clear, many stores are clear of mud and debris, cleaned them up, shored up buildings and foundations afraid of collapsing. Huge holes are now filled in. Big difference," Hogan said.County officials also said they are still trying to figure out how to remove about 40 cars that still remain in the Patapsco River. There is still no timeline as to when rebuilding will begin.Refresh wbaltv.com and our app, and watch 11 News for late-breaking updates.Get the WBAL-TV News App

ELLICOTT CITY, Md. —

The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved a disaster declaration for Howard County and surrounding areas.

County Executive Allan Kittleman released a statement Wednesday afternoon, saying SBA Director Maria Contreras-Sweet has signed the request to make low-interest disaster loans available to homeowners, property owners, businesses and nonprofit agencies.

The governor's office said the declaration covers Howard County and the adjacent counties of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Prince George’s and Montgomery.the declaration covers Howard County and the adjacent counties of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Prince George’s and Montgomery.

Businesses and nonprofit organizations of any size can borrow money to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

SBA's customer service representatives are available at the Disaster Loan Outreach Center to answer questions about the disaster loan program and help individuals complete their applications. The center is located at the Ellicott City 50+ Center at 9401 Frederick Road.

The center will be open Friday at 8 a.m. Its weekdays hours will be from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Businesses and individuals can also get information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing), or by emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

Completed applications should be returned to the center or mailed to:U.S. Small Business AdministrationProcessing and Disbursement Center14925 Kingsport RoadFort Worth, TX 76155

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Oct. 11, 2016. The deadline to return economic injury applications is May 10, 2017.

The July 30 storm dumped more than 6 inches of rain, flooding Ellicott City and killing two people.

New video obtained by 11 News shows how quickly the flood waters destroyed the town. The security camera of a small business on Main Street offers new pictures from three different views of the flood waters quickly rising.

At first, the water was passable and cars were getting by. Within minutes, the water got stronger, pushing trash cans down the street. It then became a raging river, pushing cars down Main Street like toys.

On Wednesday, Hogan toured Ellicott City to check on the progress of the cleanup efforts, more than a week since he first assessed the damage for himself.

"It looks like an entirely different place than it was last Sunday when I was here," Hogan said.

The governor said the assistance from the federal, state and local levels is impressive.

"A lot of stuff has been cleaned up, roads are clear, many stores are clear of mud and debris, cleaned them up, shored up buildings and foundations afraid of collapsing. Huge holes are now filled in. Big difference," Hogan said.

County officials also said they are still trying to figure out how to remove about 40 cars that still remain in the Patapsco River. There is still no timeline as to when rebuilding will begin.